NORTH CUT OFF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18765, 23 July 1935, Page 10

NORTH CUT OFF

HIGHWAYS FLOODED HEAVY AUCKLAND UAJN jMOTOKLSTS IN TROUBLE (l'er fi-et-r- Association.) AUCKLAND, la.sl night. All road an rail communication 'between Auckland .and the north lias been cut oil' by a series of llooils, slips and wash-outs between Warkworlh and Matmgalurolo, which liave, rendered till routes impassable. Advice received at a tali' hour to-night was that rain was still falling heavily, that the flood waters in most cases continued to rise, and that it was most improbable that any traffic, could,get through until late, to-morrow tit least. The worst llooding has occurred in the Walk worth and Wellsford districts, where over -tin.’ of rain fell between p.m. on .Saturday .and 10 o’clock yesterway morning.

With the ground already waterlogged its the result of previous ruins throughout the north, rivers and streams were swollen with unusual, rapidity and Auckland .motorists who passed through the area before the roads became impassable report that streams were pouring down every hillside and gully. Early in the day many of the roads wore covered, and by nightfall there were several points where the floods were three feet and more deep over the roads.

The worst flood for many years is reported to have occurcrd near il'oteo railway station. The line wits covered to a depth of oft. at 0 p.m., ami was still rising at that time. The railway bridge over the Hoteo l-i’iver, the planking of which is normally Bft. above water-level, was covered. In the Kaipara Flats area, the roads were made impassable early in the day, and it is thought that, on some portions of 'he road, there was nearly Jo.ft. m water to-night. EXTENSIVE WASHOUT The tints near Way by formed an til most unbroken sheet of water, which mxlended up Wltangnpiro Valley for si> miles and down towards Kaipara Several minor slips occurred in Domi Valiev during the day, bill these wen cleared through the prompt action o! Public Works Department, gangs. A more serious development was the •iieroaclinient of (loud waters til a point mar where the stream had 'been recent !y diverted. An extensive washout took place, about half the road slipping away. Although it was possible foi 'ttrs to proceed very slowly along the remainder of: the road, it was feared hat further eacroaeluneul might take place. A further blockade on thi; route nas the serious llooding at. llolee bridge.

Severn 1 Auckland motorists who ha< set out early in the day wore piloted by Automobile Association p.nirols-ovci lie road immediately north of Takapuna and at Dairy Flat, where there was a depth of about ISiu. of water inplaces, Inti wen; held up for some time in Dome Valley while slips mere being •lea red away. Through the good work of the gangs on the job, ear.vent unity got through.

j>iin:i ;i in I ;il Dairy Flat, where their was a dap! I) of a boa! 1 Sin. of water itr places, bul were held up for some time ia Dome Valley while slips were being •leareil away. Through the good work of the gangs on the job, car.venlna'lly got through. In the meantime, however, the w,atci : ia.d been rising at the hotel brnlgi lcnr Wayby. and, although these ear,iiegolitLled the Hoods safely, lalet otorists were not. so fortunate. Tin water was reported late to-night, b >e well over lift, in depth and several motorists who essayed the passage had to be towed out. Although L’.titlin. of rain fell in ‘_!-i hours up t'o !> uVlork this morning at Whangarei. conditions there are not as serious. as south of Maungaturoto. Nevertheless, a large slip, is reported tv have epme down near Maungaturoto tit the; entrance to Waipu Gorge, It it reported to >be three, or four chains vide, and will probably require more halt ti day to clear. Traflic will, however, be able to proceed from Mauugaturolo Ip AVaijrn, via. Dargaville, ;t lengthy detour, but, one which was dated to be still open. EXPRESSES HELD UP SUPS BLOCK ROADS SIX FLOODS IN 7 .MONTHS (for Truss Association.) WHANGAREI, last night. The exceptionally jhcuiyy rain that commenced at .noon yesterday still Shows no sign of abatement and caused Hoods which prevented the nor,til-bound express from Auckland to-day from proceeding further than Wayby, being forced eventually to return to the city. Hid south-bound' express got no further chan Maungaturoto and returned to Whangarei to-night, The railway authorities are unable (o stale when'the dtrpitgli” service will '-be available again owing to the,continual downpour.’ As road communication is also blocked m consequence of slips in Dome Valley, necessitating a long and risky detour via the west coast, the far north is practically isolated except for steamship services. Reports northward of Whangarei state that conditions are very menacing, though so far free' from road trallie disruption. This is the sixth serious inundation lie northern peninsula, lias experienced during the last seven months.